African Union countries to reform for good governance and the rule of law

Alfa Omar Konari, the Chairman of the Arican Union Commission, "confirmed in a statement yesterday that the African Union will launch in the New Year strategic plan to make the African continent a home for peace, good governance and the rule of law," JANA reported yesterday.

Also, "The Deputy chairman of the African Union Commission, Patrick Mazimhaka said that the African Union would be launching three new institutions during the year 2004, namely the All Africa Parliament and the Council for Peace and Security and the court for Human and Peoples Rights," JANA said.

Meantime, in a proclamation issued December 30, President Bush included Angola on a list of countries eligible for trade preferences under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, while dropping the Central African Republic and Eritrea from that list.